Movie No. 56 (2017): A UNITED KINGDOM

A United Kingdom (2017)
Director: Amma Assante, Steven Hall
Cast: David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike

While a student in London, Seretse Khama, the future king of Botswana meets a British clerk (Ruth Williams). They fall in love and get married despite objections from both families. But that's not the major problem. The marriage stirs and challenges present political climate and the recently installed apartheid. The movie is about this hurdle.

I see the movie as something that's not much different from some blockbuster romance movies, from basic premise, to second act, to conclusion. But this one happens in a  real premise that will become an important phase in history. This, too is not unique. But the reasons the movie works are the excellent performances of the lead actors and the balanced treatment of the narrative considering that the movie discusses racial tension and other political issues.

Rating: 3.5/4.0

Date seen: August 20, 2017